July 21, 2026 – Washington County, WI – Fairgoers stopping by the Washington County Farm Bureau food stand this year will notice a more efficient layout designed to speed service, improve working conditions for volunteers, and better accommodate the crowds that flock to one of the fair’s most popular dining destinations.
Washington County Farm Bureau President Tyler Heterbrueg said the improvements are the first significant upgrades to the building since it was constructed in the early 2000s.
One of the biggest changes is with the french fry and burger cooking operations.
“We consolidated french fries and burger frying to one area and all under one roof,” said Heterbrueg. “That allowed us to eliminate the tent we’ve used the last three years for french fries.”
The redesign also shifted the cooking heat from the main volunteer workspace.
“Removing that heat from the main group of volunteers wrapping sandwiches, scooping ice cream and taking orders makes a big difference,” he said.
Inside the original building, the remodeled floor plan creates a more open workspace and has allowed the Farm Bureau to add a third service window.
“We’re hoping to encourage people to use the third window on those three busy dinner shift nights,” Heterbrueg said. “We feel that by doing that we may gain more sales while keeping our lines shorter, even though the lines already move fast despite often being backed up to the end of our seating area.”
Beyond the physical improvements, Heterbrueg said the Farm Bureau keeps families and their pocketbooks a priority.
“We strive to be a family-affordable place at the fair while serving quality products sourced locally,” he said. “The money raised goes back to supporting youth and agriculture throughout Washington County.”
